Trump keeps up pressure on Dems over border wall
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump kept up pressure Monday on congressional Democrats over funding for his promised border wall, even as lawmakers appeared likely to avert a partial government shutdown this week with a stopgap measure.
Democrats have little interest in providing the $5 billion Trump wants for the border with Mexico. And even some Republicans balk at spending more than the $1.6 billion already provided. But Trump has signaled he’s ready to fight for the money as one of the last big-ticket items of the GOP-led Congress before Democrats take over the House in the new year.
Trump tweeted Monday: “We would save Billions of Dollars if the Democrats would give us the votes to build the Wall.” He did not provide any evidence for the savings, but again threatened to close the “entire Southern Border if necessary.”
The president invited the top Democratic leaders, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, to the White House for a meeting Tuesday, but a Democratic aide said that in light of events surrounding former President George H.W. Bush’s funeral, Schumer and Pelosi have asked the White House to postpone the meeting until next week.
Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Saturday he would be willing to sign a two-week government funding extension to allow for ceremonies honoring Bush, who died Friday.
“I would absolutely consider it and probably give it,” Trump told reporters. The White House is expecting that to be between seven and 14 days, said a White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Democrats, though, prefer only a one-week measure as talks continue. Schumer has suggested about $3 billion for the wall – the $1.6 billion already offered along with the remaining $1.3 billion from the current fiscal year that has not yet been spent. The country shouldn’t have to endure a shutdown over “Trump’s temper tantrum,” Schumer said.
Congress has just two weeks to wrap up the session, a full workload on the to-do list, before lawmakers adjourn for the year.
Lawmakers are considering a sweeping criminal justice package with sentencing reforms, a farm bill that’s a top priority of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other items before year-end.
McConnell told reporters in Louisville on Saturday it’s up to Trump “to do a deal with the Democrats.” He said, “I think that’s the path to getting a signature and avoiding a government shutdown.”
Nearly three-quarters of the federal government has been funded for the fiscal year that runs through Sept. 30, 2019, but the stalemate is over wall funds and other remaining federal agencies. Federal funding for those is set to expire at midnight on Friday.
Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed to this story.